Fiat Ducato Recall Problems
Firstly...I would have to say that I have no issues with both Fiat Professional Service Centres ( they have both done what they can… )
I received the recall notice five weeks ago for our brand new Swift 486 Edge - Fiat Ducato which we bought with 1 mile on the clock 8 months ago.
Six weeks ago, we received a recall notice for ‘faulty steering components' and reacted immediately by booking the vehicle in to a local Fiat Professional Service Centre, in March.,
I drove the motorhome a 60 mile round trip for the 15 minute inspection , to which they inspected the vehicle and told me that the recall component had ‘failed’ - however they then informed me that they could not fit the vehicle into their work shop - and that I would have to take the vehicle to another Service Centre, a further 30 miles away - via another appointment.
I then contacted the second Service Centre and explained the problem and that the vehicle had failed the inspection, however they insisted that they had to inspect the vehicle themselves.
Unfortunately, the earliest they could inspect the vehicle was 18 days later, being the 12th April.
I again collected the vehicle and drove another 30 mile trip for the 15 minute inspection and was told that the vehicle had failed, which I already knew.
I was informed that the ‘proof’ would be sent to Fiat so the repair could be authorised, with the expectation that it could take a week.
After a week I telephoned the Service Centre on Monday 19th - as I had heard nothing, who informed me that they had not had an answer from Fiat - and that it could take a further 4 weeks - and that I must not drive the vehicle.
Having booked and paid in full, in advance for two holidays (…covid etc ) before the knowledge of the Safety Recall and with time running out, I was keen to get the job done asap.
Because of the compounded delays with the vehicle not being able to be repaired back in March due to the size of the first Service Centres workshop, then the delay in the time taken to book a second inspection - and now with a further expectation of between 4 - 6 week, I decided to escalate the case.
I then contacted Fiat Customer Care on Monday 19th April by a hefty explanatory email - and Tuesday received a telephone call from Lombardy Italy explaining that a ‘case’ had been opened and they would try to obtain the part and ‘bump me up the list’ and would call me back with a date.
Today I can un-cheerfully announce that Fiat Lombardy Italy have confirmed that the component has been on back order for months… with no foreseeable date of when they will take delivery ( in Italy) from the manufacturer, which could be months - let alone ship it to Britain, then onto the Fiat Professional Service Centres.
I fail to comprehend how a vehicle like a 2.3 Fiat Ducato, the base of most vans. flatbed lorries and motorhomes in the world, don’t have this part on the shelf, having since discovered that this recall has gone on since 2019.
Therefore we now are paying £504.00 a month, an additional £120.00 a quarter storage, £500 a year insurance for the privilege of owning a brand new Swift Motorhome with 1034 miles on the clock…which is unusable and depreciating by the minute.
Anyone else enjoying the same experience... ?
Moderator Comment - Moved from the Story Section
Comments
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I feel for you but you are also just one of many affected by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 and the Covid 19 disease it creates.
Supply chains have been closed and disrupted worldwide. I hope things work out for you but I suspect it will take much time.
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Just out of interest have you engaged with the supplying dealer as I would have thought they were the first port of call?
David
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No doubt you have contacted Fiat Camper Assist, Ally.
I know Fiat parts have been affected by production shutdown, as mentioned. We needed an exhaust sensor and there wasn't one to be had in the UK but, fortunately, it was sourced from Italy and fitted within a few days.
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Hi Tin
Because of the runaround I'm having, to save time I went straight to Fiat Professional Italy, who then claim they have contacted all their partners to see if they can get the part - However, I have contacted the dealer, who are going to contact Swift ( I'm waiting for a reply from the dealer this morning ) as I pointed out that this is a brand new vehicle and they have known about the Recall since Nov 2019, so technically either Fiat or Swift ( having done a PDI ) would technically be supplying new vehicles with a known safety fault.
I have notified the dealer ( and Blackhorse Finance ) that if it is not resolved immediately ( given the time taken so far ) that we'll be rejecting the vehicle as not fit for purpose.
I'll update when I get a reply, as it would seem there are quite a few with the same problem.
Thanks
Al
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Hi David
Yes, have done that.
It would seem that this is quite common.
In terms of liability the order will be - Fiat, then Swift, The Dealer and finally the Finance company.
However, I have made everyone aware that if it isn't resolved immediately ( given the time taken so far ) someone will be taking the vehicle back as unfit for purpose.
I'll update as soon as I have had a further reply.
Thanks
Al
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Ultimately it is the dealer's responsibility to sell a fit for purpose MH. You and your finance company will be rejecting it through them. I wish you well.
I have the lowest possible opinion of the dealer we bought our van from but they did at least take it to the garage for recall checks to be made before we took ownership.
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Good point about the Dealer doing any recall checks - I have actually sent them a 'get out ' clause... saying that Swift should have done that as the intermediate on-manufacturer, since they re-manufacture the vehicle... either way, given that they started the recall in Nov 2019 and this being a brand new vehicle over a year later... someone should have picked it up - However, the dealer informed me this morning, that their Finance Director is now involving Swift, so hopefully things are happening.
I have even suggested that Fiat authorise ( to maintain the warranty ) fitting an uprated steering knuckle like Bilstein etc, the cost would be more I accept, but I'm sure that would be better than having a vehicle returned, which they would have to sell off as second hand...
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Your contract is always with the company you purchased from. The Consumer Rights Act reflects this. Your dealer will know it and know that he has no choice but to accept liability. Any discussion between the dealer and Swift is of no consequence to you as that is purely their concern.
Think about it - if you bought a faulty washing machine from a high street shop, you'd complain to the shop and not to the manufacturer or the company that fitted the hoses on the back. You'd look to that shop for redress.
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I have had the same recall on our Burstner Lyseo on a Fiat Ducati chassis and both knuckles are involved. The advice from Fiat is that defective vehicles should not be driven. My Vehicle was inspected on the 27th of April and I have been advised this morning by Fiat customer services that NO date can be given for dispatch of the replacement parts due to a manufacturing issue. They could not guarantee that the vehicle would be roadworthy even by September. As new vehicles are still being manufactured, -presumably with a front steering and suspension units, it gives you a clue as to there attitude towards existing customers! Apparently if you are seeking compensation you can forget it! To add to our woes the clutch failed and we are waiting for those parts too although they are due tomorrow. Not what you expect from a vehicle after 2.5K miles that cost a shade under £70k. !!!
2,633 vehicles are affected according to the DVSA not exactly a small number.
if someone said it is a small number affected then why the problem releasing the small number of replacement parts.0 -
I am in the same boat with my 18 month old Swift Motorhome. Took me a month to get an appointment with the garage.
Since been waiting four weeks for the parts with no sight of them.
We could do with the Caravan and Motorhome Club helping us by taking our problem up with Fiat and applying some pressure on the company and even initiating a class action.
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It’s an international issue and I doubt the CAMC could make any difference at all. The suggestion of class action is unrealistic in these circumstances.
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That’s incredibly frustrating. Aside from the delay in getting the part, the problem all motorhome owners face is that to get any work done you require a service centre capable of taking the size and weight of vehicle. I had a new Peugeot wing mirror fitted under warranty (temperature sensor) and it’s a simple enough job but the local dealers wouldn't touch it as it wouldn’t go in their workshops even though the job could be done quite simply on the forecourt (Health and Safety no doubt which is understandable). So one hour each way to get it inspected then same again to get the work done.
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As Fiat /Peugeot and Citroen base vans are essentially the same base vehicle(with engine variants) is this solely a Fiat issue?
Our 2019 Peugeot was recently serviced by a Robins and Day Peugeot dealership and no mention of any recall issues was made.
Bullet dodged this time?
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Hi all, our Peugeot Boxer based Bailey motorhome, which we purchased new in Feb 2020, has been the subject of the same recall for a defective steering knuckle. The inspecting garage immediately took it off the road a week before we were due to go on holiday. We were told that there is a world shortage of these parts and those that are available are being directed to new build. The time scale for repair is unknown with a suggestion that it may not be this year!! As the dealership we bought the motorhome from is no longer trading we are trying to get Peugeot UK involved but email, letter and phone calls have so far been ignored, even though we have a Customer care case number and promises of someone will ring us back. To date nothing. Very frustrating.
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Update on my post above, about our Peugeot Boxer based Bailey motorhome which has now been fixed after a wait of about 6 weeks.
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I have never owned a Fiat, the jokes abounded many years ago, it seems the problems continue. If anything good can come from it then I’d get rid & not buy a Fiat again. This is an engineering/QC issue not a pandemic one. The Coronavirus has exacerbated the problem not created it.
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I initially experienced potentially the same issue as other members regarding delays to secure replacement parts following the recall of my (Fiat) Motorhome which was purchased just before lockdown in March 2020.
I received the recall letter for ‘faulty steering components' from Fiat towards the end of April 2021. I could not initially get an appointment to have the vehicle inspected by Fiat Professional but managed to get something finally booked for 22 July 2021.
Following inspection the none conforming Steering Knuckles were identify on my Motorhome and the vehicle was immediately taken off the road as deemed unsafe to drive. The local Fiat Professional Garage was not able to give me a timescale when parts would be available, so I immediately raised a complaint with Fiat Customer Services citing delay to complete repairs as not being acceptable - especially given that parts were available to build new van but not repair those subject of the recall. Also Informed Fiat that I had a trip booked in August 2021, so was seeking assurance that repairs would be completed in time for the trip and without any further delays.
Initially I did not get much response from Fiat Customer Services, promised calls not returned etc, so I emailed the CEO of Fiat UK direct. I indicated that I required the repairs to be completed by 17 August 2021 or insisted that Fiat provide me with a replacement motorhome for the duration of our trip. Put them on notice that I intended to recover any additional cost that were incurred to undertake my trip as planned if the repairs were not completed in time.
After some 'negotiations' Fiat agreed to pay £125 per day to hire another motorhome if repairs not completed before the planned date of the trip.
Miraculously, the parts needed for my Motorhome were suddenly 'located' and the repairs successfully completed on 5 August 2021.
To make a point, I then requested reimbursement of my 'wasted expenses' (ie Road Tax, Insurance and the cost of the Tracker Subscription) for the time my motorhome was off the road and could not be used.
Eventually was offered a free service by Fiat as good will gesture - which I accepted.
Moral of the story, be polite, be proactive but be persistent.
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Is this what is causing new Swift / Fiat Motorhomes to have the red label on the dashboard saying 'do not drive' until Al-ko have performed critical service? We ordered ours on Saturday and although this is an old thread it makes me wonder whether it's still an issue.
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The Alko notice is unlikely to be anything to do with the Fiat base vehicle steering/brakes etc.
Some models have an extended chassis supplied by Alko and some have Alko air assisted suspension. Only the dealer can give you a definitive answer.
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